STATEMENT BY MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON THE TAXI AND LIMOUSINE COMMISSION'S APPROVAL OF CITY'S PLAN FOR "GREEN" BLACK CARS

"It is great news for all New Yorkers that the Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously voted to turn City black cars 'green.' The Commission today approved our proposal, part of PlaNYC, to boost fuel efficiency standards in the black cars that service corporate clients to a level currently achievable only by using hybrid technology. The vote, which comes on the heels of December's vote to apply the same standards to the City's yellow cab fleet, will now require the more than 23,000 yellow and black TLC regulated cars to be required to be more fuel efficient. This will mean lowered fuel costs for black car drivers who often idle, reduced emissions for residents, and keep us moving towards our long-term goal of creating a truly sustainable City. We estimate that the emissions of the 10,000 black cars that operate in New York City will be cut in half. I want to thank the Partnership for New York City, the black car industry, and the corporations that use black cars for their cooperation and leadership throughout this process."